The Regional Tourism Constabulary (Polisi Pamong Praja Pariwisata Bali) has “inducted” five local Bali dogs to become ambassador-partners as official “Tourism Dogs” to play a role in serving and protecting the Island and its people.
Among the first assignments for the five dogs was an appearance in conjunction with World Rabies Day 2024 on Sunday, 29 September 2024. The ceremony, held in the parking area of Mertasari Beach in Sanur, adopted the theme “Breaking Rabies Boundaries.”
As reported by NusaBali.com, a representative of the Constabulary, Wayan Anggara, praised the attendance of the human Satpol PP-Bali Officers wearing their distinctive uniforms of shorts and jungle hats, insisting their attendance reflects Bali’s commitment to “quality tourism.”
Anggara continued: “Every tourist destination in the world needs its tourism police. Bali must make a similar effort as a global destination but has adopted an innovative approach.” Bali’s tourism police have developed rules and regulations, training protocols, and a scheme of broader collaboration with the local community. Polisi Pamong Praja Pariwisata Bali is taking the lead in socializing with island visitors and observing the rules and mores that tourists must observe when in Bali.
The five Local K-9s complement the unique Satpol PP Pariwisata Constabulary. Four of the five dogs are drawn from Bali’s officially recognized Kintamani Breed, while the fifth dog is a “Bali Street Dog” known locally as “cicing kacang.” Since October 2023, all five dogs have undergone intensive training to ensure proper acclimation to their new working environment and proximity to island tourist visitors.
The K-9 Ambassadors meet and greet tourists while educating the public on animal welfare issues. “We want to educate tourists and local communities about the importance of vaccination against rabies and parvovirus, as well as animal welfare in general,” Anggara explained. He also commented that the Kintamani breed was selected because the dogs represent the Island of Bali and the dogs’ widely acknowledged innate intelligence and adaptability.
The five K-9 Officers are named: Citu, Cida, Ciga, Cipa (Kintamani Breed), dan Cika (“cicing kacang”). The dogs were adopted from a kennel at the age of three months, after which they underwent extensive police training.
“We wish to demonstrate that as a local Balinese breed, Kintamani dogs are as intelligent and obedient as other dog breeds. They learn quickly and socialize well,” said Anggara. The new four-footed officers have received an initial enthusiastic response from tourist visitors who are impressed by the unique approach used by Satpol PP Bali.
The Satpol PP Tourism Team and the Tourism K-9s have already visited popular tourist destinations, including Uluwatu, Tanah Lot, Beratan Lake, Gunung Kawi, Tirta Empul, and several beaches. “We hope that the presence of these dogs will attract the attention of tourist visitors and also encourage dog owners in Bali and tourists to be good owners in caring for their pets,” added Anggara. He hopes that regencies and cities in Bali will adopt this program in the future to support tourism in their respective regions.
I Kadek Adi Ardana Putra, a dog handler from Satpol PP Bali, explained that Kintamani dogs are generally known as one-man-dogs, meaning they will typically only obey one owner. However, Putra said that with proper training, this trait can be minimized. These dogs are trained using a desensitization method, which means gradually introducing them to public places and getting them accustomed to interacting with a wide range of people.
“For the first three months, we brought the dogs to public places and introduced them to office workers. We want to eliminate the stigma that Kintamani dogs are fierce and difficult to train. These dogs can be friendly and not aggressive when meeting tourists in crowded places,” said Kadek.
“In addition, we want to show that Kintamani dogs, as a local Balinese breed, are not inferior intellectually to other breeds of dogs. They learn quickly, can socialize well, and are easy to train,” Putra said. Each dog has a designated handler and is routinely taken to tourist destinations to socialize the importance of vaccinations and the proper care of pets.
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